From the moment Ricky Rubio returned following major left knee surgery, it was made clear to everyone that his playing time would be limited. The Minnesota Timberwolves understandably want to be as careful as possible with the prized point guard, and with their season in free fall at this point, there’s added incentive not to push their luck with Rubio’s health.

Acting head coach Terry Porter went with JJ Barea instead of Rubio last night, during a loss to the visiting Brooklyn Nets, and the young Spaniard told the media that he was angry with the decision.

Per the Pioneer Press and Star Tribune:

Adding to another loss by the Timberwolves — their seventh in the past eight games — was Ricky Rubio’s candid disappointment over not playing in the fourth quarter of a 91-83 loss to the Brooklyn Nets at Target Center on Wednesday night, Jan. 23. It was the first time this season Rubio has not made an appearance in the fourth quarter, prompting Rubio to seek an explanation from head coach Terry Porter.

“I want to know what happened,” Rubio said. “We’re going to talk. ‘TP’ preferred to play the other players who were playing. I don’t know what to say. I don’t like it.” […] “Yeah,” Rubio said when asked if he was upset, “but it is what it is. T.P. preferred to play players who were playing. I don’t know what to say, you know.”

Ricky Rubio was on the floor for 24 minutes last night, which is less than the team-imposed limit of 26-28. Rubio’s comeback from knee surgery has been difficult, as he continues to struggle with his shot-making, defense and health (Ricky admitted on Tuesday that his surgically-repaired knee still hurts.)

As for the Timberwolves’ losing ways, here’s how the point guard assessed their bleak state of affairs: “It’s hard for us to finish games,” Rubio said. “We have to want to win. Sometimes it seems that we don’t want to win.”

According to the Pioneer Press, Terry Porter will become the Timberwolves’ assistant coach when the NBA lockout ends: “The Timberwolves won’t be hiring any of new coach Rick Adelman’s assistants until the NBA lockout is resolved. But when it is, former Wolves guard Terry Porter will be among them. Porter, 48, who coached the Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns, played for Adelman for six seasons with the Portland Trail Blazers. He also interviewed for the Wolves’ head coaching job.”

All of the names below have been bounced around as potential Kurt Rambis replacements in Minnesota. Who do you think should be hired? Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Terry Porter was the first man interviewed for Minny’s vacant head coaching positiong, and now Mike Woodson is up to bat. From the Detroit News: “The Pistons’ coaching search seems to have hit a standstill and one of their top candidates is exploring his options. Mike Woodson, who is a finalist to replace John Kuester, will interview with the Minnesota Timberwolves for their vacant coaching position Tuesday. Celtics assistant Lawrence Frank is considered the other top candidate for the Pistons job. Woodson confirmed his scheduled meeting with the Timberwolves but declined to comment further when reached late Monday night. Woodson has met with the Pistons twice to this point, first with Pistons President of basketball operations Joe Dumars and vice-president Scott Perry.”

Nope, not at all: “Stoudemire said he was frustrated that Porter didn’t allow him to show off the things he had worked on last summer, primarily his ball-handling skills. He also said Porter was a `my way or the highway` coach who `wasn’t really accepting of what we (the players) thought would work.` As for D’Antoni, Stoudemire said, `He sometimes wouldn’t talk to certain players, which sometimes can be a little frustrating because you want to build that relationship with a coach and be his friend.` In contrast, Stoudemire had nothing but praise for Gentry, who he called a players’ coach. `You want a coach you can hug and hold and high-five and really have fun with,` Stoudemire said. `That makes it fun to play.`”

Of course bad news comes in threes, and with the trade deadline right around the corner, one suspects that Suns fans might not be out of the woods yet. By then, someone might just be another STATistic.

The Suns roller coaster season will likely be going through another loop Monday as Terry Porter reportedly will be axed as head coach.

The Arizona Republic reports the Suns will be making a skipper change tomorrow morning.

There are strong indications that the Suns will have a new head coach leading them at Monday’s scheduled afternoon practice.

[…]

Because of financial concerns, the replacement probably would come from the staff. Lead assistant Alvin Gentry would be the likely successor, not General Manager Steve Kerr, as has been reported.

Considering the team’s ninth-place record in the West and the growing dislike of Porter in the lockroom, the decision is a good one by Kerr. Unfortunately, Kerr’s good decisions are all the product of initial bad ones. The Suns GM has to be wary of losing his job as well.

Word on the street, er, Web, is that the Suns are about to relieve their first-year coach of his duties. And that word, comes from the NYPost— so take it for what it’s worth:

Meanwhile, according to a Phoenix source, Porter will be replaced by Kerr, who recently completed a crash correspondence coaching course taught by McHale and Tony DiLeo.

A relatively plugged-in Suns blog is also hearing similar rumors about the Suns’ head coach.

If Porter were to be given his walking papers, it wouldn’t exactly be a shocking move on the part of Steve Kerr and co. He has failed, spectacularly, to get the players to buy into his system, and let’s just say the city of Phoenix isn’t planning any parade routes for mid-to-late June.

The Suns might want to hold off on the firing until after the weekend to save everyone involved a few headaches.